Page 106 of Dark Flame

“You’re an idiot, Car. Harlow, you look great. Fits you well.”

You’re beautiful, Hellion.His voice slides down my spine, softer than the material of this cloak.

I fight the urge to turn and call attention to his presence when Jasper’s head whips up, eyes narrowed on the exact place I left Alec waiting. “Shit,” he curses at the same time Carina demands, “Isthatyour vampire?”

Jasper’s palms immediately light up white—air magick, I learned earlier, but I reach out to block any impending attack.

“Don’t,” I plead, right as Morgan crosses towards us, a warning look aimed at her nephew. “He won’t attack. He’s with me.”

Thankfully I’m saved from the questions when Morgan forcibly shifts her nephew and daughter to look another way. “Stop calling attention to him,” she grits. “I’m aware he’s here, Jasper. It’s like Harlow said. We can trust him for now.”

“Besides...” Carina winks. “He’s only interested in eating one of us.”

And I’m fucking ravenous, and not only for your blood.

Jasper throws me an incredulous look but obeys his High Priestess, who’s now walking in Alec’s direction. Hopefully not for anything bad, but I resist looking because I’m noticing others glance our way. Instead, I debate lifting the large hood over my head and hiding from the coven.

“I want the story later,” Jasper mutters. “And ignore Carina. She enjoys romanticizing our enemies. She’s a bit obsessed with sneaking down the mountain to check out our resident shifter pack.”

Carina scoffs, putting her hands on her hips. “’Kay, enemies or not, have youseenthe alpha’s son? That man is something else. I’ll overlook the wolfy part of him for the rest.”

I perk at the mention of creatures I’ve had no passing with. “Actual shifters?”

Jasper chuckles. “There’s a lot to it, but it’s a story for another time.”

Morgan passes by, gesturing for us to follow, so Carina takes my hand and leads me forward. I twist to wave at Alec before merging with the ranks of the coven, who all stand in a circle with Morgan positioned by what I assume is North. They spot me immediately, a low buzz of conversation filling the area.

Ignore them.

Hard to ignore the confused and excited exclamations of my name being tossed around, but Morgan calls them to attention.

“Sisters. Brothers. Welcome to September’s full moon. As you see, we have a new witch amongst our ranks, but it’s a member we’ll be welcoming back. Harlow Sinclair, so it seems, never died. I found her yesterday and brought her home, and I ask that we use tonight to thank Hecate for her safe return.”

Safe?For once, I agree with Alec’s scoff. After learning what I had, was I ever safe?

“Is she truly Harlow Sinclair?” a man on the other side of the circle calls. “She could be an imposter.”

Alec growls in my head.Disrespectful fuck.

“I felt her signature,” Morgan replies. “I feel her as though she never left. The accident that led to us believing she died did not involve her or the Hartmans.”

“What happened to them?” a woman asks, casting a nervous glance my way.

“They died,” I answer before Morgan has to. “They won’t be coming back.”

The witch opens her mouth with a follow-up question, but Morgan waves her down. “Afterwards, I will answer any questions you may have, but for now, I would prefer to celebrate her return. I also request we use tonight’s full moon to call upon combined energies and help Harlow retrieve memories that have been stolen from her by Arthur and Violet. Harlow has no recollection of anyone here, nor her childhood with the coven.”

Or my real parents. Everyone here would know Emily and John more than I ever will.

What will these “combined energies” consist of?His possessive growl vibrates through my mind, but this time, I use the sensation to calm my racing heart.

There’s an agreement that runs through the circle and Carina squeezes my hand, reminding me she’s still holding it. Jasper takes my left, and I notice how everyone’s now holding hands.

Morgan breaks away from the circle to begin calling the elements using the same incantations she spoke inside her house. There are no candles this time, but regardless, the elements make themselves known.

With Earth joining us, leaves circle the area before forming a ring behind everyone’s feet.

With Air joining us, a gust of wind snakes around us.